Impact Mapping: Delivering What Matters

With the adoption of agile and better engineering techniques we have pretty much solved the problem of “delivering” software. Unfortunately, it’s not enough. Now we need to turn our focus to delivering “the right” software – software that makes an impact to the customer.

The answer to building the right software begins with a better understanding of the business opportunity and goals. Best of all, we can do this using a collection of familiar concepts, combined in a powerful new way, bringing a shared and measurable vision to your scrum project. This approach is called “Impact Mapping.”

This workshop introduces “Impact Mapping” by demonstrating a collaborative approach to solving the challenge of building the right thing. Breaking into small teams, we will build a sample Impact Map, learn to identify and verify the assumptions you've made, and find new approaches to solving the business problem. We will also discuss using this to measure the output of our effort. Attending participants will receive a handout with a worked example and sample questions and techniques that help lead to a successful mapping session.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about and practice the techniques to uncover assumptions and motivations about your current project – and ensure your next project makes the right impact on customers and bottom line. Let's help our customers better refine and communicate their goals. Impact Mapping is at the heart of the customer voice because it literally gives voice to their needs. We will see you at IMPACT MAPPING!

Outline/structure of the Session

The session will start at the point where the customer has identified the value that they want to achieve and their requirements (An output "report").

Step 1 (15 Minutes). The "Impact Map" will be introduced by way of an interactive worked example. This will show the audience how to create a map using a step-by-step identification of the question sets. The process ends when we have a complete map. The questions are:

Why are we doing this? What are the desired business outcomes?

Who are the people who can do this? What is the stakeholder group who we believe can help us achieve the outcome?

How can the group contribute or obstruct the goal? What about the stakeholder needs help or hinder the desired outcome?

What are the activities or software capabilities that would support the stakeholder needs in contributing to our business goal? What are the features, or what can we do to support the stakeholders in supporting the business goal?

One or more versions of the map and questions will be posted as cheat sheet to the audience.

Step 2 (45 Minutes) The audience will then break into smaller groups and work on an example of their own through a guided exercise.They can either provide an example from their place of work, or we will provide them with examples.

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